BOOK UPDATE & A SNEAK PEEK INTO ACT I

I wanted to share a quick update on the progress of my book, Don’t Get Played – How the Green New Scam is Playing Rural Communities.

Writing a book while juggling a full-time job, family life, and everything else life throws at you… well, let’s just say it’s a slow-cooked process, not a microwave dinner. But I am making steady headway. And today, I’d like to give you a sneak peek at Act I – Ideals, Identity & Rural Reality.

This opening act lays the emotional and cultural foundation for the entire book. It’s a heartfelt, grounded portrayal of rural life—and the values that define it: community, legacy, faith, and quiet resilience. Here’s a quick look at what’s inside:

• Deep Roots & Neighborly Bonds
  We begin with a portrait of rural community life—where neighbors aren’t just people who live nearby. They’re witnesses to our lives. Through the stories of folks like Nancy and Ellen, we see how land isn’t just property—it’s memory, marriage, and meaning.

• Personal Awakening
  This is where my journey begins—from curious homeowner to reluctant advocate. What starts as a few honest questions about drainage turns into a crash course in developer manipulation and bureaucratic evasion.

• Faith as Fuel
  One Sunday morning, a sermon on service—and a flock of wild turkeys (yes, really)—gives me the clarity I didn’t know I was praying for. This story shows how faith isn’t just belief—it’s uncomfortable action.

• The Cost of Caring
  Standing up comes with a price. From missed family moments to strained relationships, this act shares the emotional toll of advocacy—the unseen weight behind the public fight.

• The Quiet Fracturing of Community
  As tensions rise, so do the divisions. Conversations get shorter. Eye contact fades. What was once a close-knit community starts to feel unfamiliar. Change doesn’t always come with noise—sometimes, it arrives in silence.

What’s Next?
If you check out the “Legend” in the book, you’ll get a clear roadmap of what’s still to come. While the early chapters lay the emotional groundwork, I know many of you are eager for the no-fluff, straight-talking content—the “meat and potatoes.”

That’s coming in Act IV, and trust me, it’s unapologetic. This is where I dig into the facts the developers don’t want you to see, the regulatory loopholes they count on you not understanding, and the hard conversations communities must be willing to have if they want to protect what matters.

From contamination concerns to property value impacts, Act IV is the chapter stack you’ll want to dog-ear, highlight, and maybe even tape to the township office door. It’s still being polished—but the bones are strong. Stay tuned.

A Few Quick Notes:

For now, I plan to release this book digitally only. I haven’t finalized whether it will be a PDF or an eBook format—but I’m leaning toward PDF. It’s simple and doesn’t require folks to download a special reader.

Like everything I’ve shared throughout this journey, this book will be free. That said, for the first time, I’m open to donations. Not because I’m trying to get rich—but because I’ve stolen a lot of time from my wife over the past few years. A nice meal somewhere fancy on our next vacation might be a small way to say thanks for her patience. I thank you in advance for any consideration!

To Preorder or Donate:
https://sites.google.com/view/dontgetplayedpreorder/home

And one last thing (before I share Act I)…
If you’ve appreciated my past posts, articles, rants, or reflections—and especially if Act I speaks to something you’ve felt in your own bones—please consider sharing this with others who might benefit from reading it.

You never know who might be standing on the edge of the same fight, just waiting for a flashlight in the dark.

Thanks for following along. Your support, encouragement, and curiosity keep me going—even on the tired nights.

More soon.

— JW